Outside!

Summertime means nice weather, which means we get OUTSIDE. And let's face it, this Sorenson clan does better outside. Inside, we're TRAPPED. We fuss and we complain and we whine. Trapped, I tell you. But outside, we're FREE. And we play. And we tire ourselves out.

Outside, our kids play well together.

Maybe not always TOGETHER - more like they play well next to each other.

But hey, I'll take that.

And yes, she's in her pajamas. But hey, she's OUTSIDE. It's all good outside.

Even Dad gets into the hang of things outside.

And our friends join in the fun outside. And outside, you can justify ice cream.

Although I'm not sure that old lady can justify that goofy look with the helmet.

But hey, it's outside.

So it's all good.

And yes, admittedly, all that outside time means some eventually tired and cranky kids

But it also means some SLEEPING kids. Ahhh, outside is good.

My son, the boy

While at Johnny Rockets for lunch....

Mom: "how do you guys like those shakes?"
Jack: "Mine is AWESOME. I'm DEFINITELY going to pass gas after this."

Busch Gardens

Jared was in training down in Williamsburg for a couple of weeks, so the kids and I decided to go visit him one of the weekends. Our kids are easily impressed by vacation things - it reminds me of when we'd go on vacation as kids, and we were beyond thrilled to be able to run down the halls to the ice machine. So needless to say, they were thrilled that we got to go to Busch Gardens. They're finally tall enough to go on almost all the rides (although we discovered that Jared's tummy isn't quite up to some of them), so we were able to spend all day in the park without running out of things to do. Throw in some mini-golf and "Spiderman 2" during our mini-vacay, and they were exhausted enough that they didn't even complain on the almost 4-hour drive home.


When we first got down there after 4 hours of traffic, we were ready to get out in the fresh air for a little mini-golf. The kids loved the mini-golf, and I loved the fact that there was a Dairy Queen next door.

Don't let Ellie's serious-looking stance fool you - she totally cheats once you aren't looking

After crashing out in the hotel, the next morning we got up bright and early to hit Busch Gardens. The kids loved watching one of the Clydesdales get groomed.

Is it just me, or are they up just a little too high?

Who says we don't know how to do a selfie?

OK, I admit, we don't really know hot to do a selfie

We'll eventually get the hang of it - of course, by the time we get the hang of it, selfies won't be a think anymore, but hey...

Let me tell you, I can rock a teacup - I do believe I was spinning that thing WAY faster than any of those 8-year-olds

Good times

An Early Mother's Day

Jared was scheduled for travel on Mother's Day, so he gave me my gift a little early - he and his brother, Dave, took the kids (and the dogs!) camping over on my parents' property. I was officially kid- and dog- and responsibility-free from 4pm Friday to 1pm Saturday. Which....was pretty darn nice. I got some cleaning done, then went out to dinner with some girlfriends, then watched a chick flick on TV before hitting the sack. I'd like to say that I slept in on Saturday, but I think I'm now hardwired to wake up early - but at least I had a leisurely morning before heading over to get my hair cut. (And no, I don't consider getting my hair cut a particularly fun activity - it just happened to be scheduled that day.) A little R&R is never a bad thing!

Meanwhile, off went Jared and Dave and Jack and Ellie and Otis and Oliver and Hershey (my mom's dog, who apparently decided to join them not just in their camping activities but in the actual TENT as well - bet that tent smelled AWESOME!). They roasted some hot dogs, and made some s'mores, and camped in a big dog-smelly tent. The next morning they did a little shooting and some more scurrying before heading back home. They came home tired and dirty and a bit tick-ridden, but they had fun.



Camping on the river

Hot dogs over the fire

Apparently, they had quiet the fire going

Oliver and Hershey just loved each other - they were all about the snuggling

Otis, well, let's not talk about Otis, shall we?

Hello, doggies

Jack just really can't get enough s'mores

All cuddled up for sleep - for the record, the kids said that Hershey snores

Good morning!

Just for the record, Jack did NOT shoot that turtle